Student Arrested, Tasered at John Kerry Event

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida student was Tasered and arrested after trying to ask U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., about the 2004 election and other subjects during a campus forum.

Videos of the incident posted on several Web sites show officers pulling Andrew Meyer, 21, away from the microphone after he asks Kerry about impeaching President George W. Bush and whether he and Bush were both members of the secret society Skull and Bones at Yale University.

“He apparently asked several questions — he went on for quite awhile — then he was asked to stop,” university spokesman Steve Orlando said. “He had used his allotted time. His microphone was cut off, then he became upset.”

As two officers take Meyer by the arms, Kerry is heard to say, “That’s alright, let me answer his question.” Audience members applaud, and Meyer struggles to escape for several seconds as up to four officers try to remove him from the room.

Meyer screams for help and asks “What did I do?” as he tries to break away from officers. He is forced to the ground and officers order him to stop resisting. Meyer says he will walk out if the officers let him go.

As Kerry tells the audience he will answer the student’s “very important question,” Meyer struggles on the ground and yells at the officers to release him, crying out, “Don’t Tase me, bro,” just before he is Tasered. He is then led from the room, screaming, “What did I do?”

Meyer was charged with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace, according to Alachua County jail records. No bond had been set. Meyer was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning, a jail official said.

There are so many videos out there of the event - just go to YouTube and pick the angle you like!

I have two minds about the encounter. Part of me feels that the kid was over the line and a bit out of control. But I also feel that the security guards/cops were over the line, and they didn’t know what the hell they were doing. Tasering him wasn’t necessary. He could have easily been escorted out of the building and that would have been that. But no, they had to instigate him, taser him, and then arrest him for some bullshit charge (inciting a riot? come on). For some reason, cops are really good at the beatdown but then they have no idea what to do next.

It’s difficult because I’m like, look at this idiot college kid - he could use a good taserin’. Of course, I’m half joking. Cops tend to be bullies so you gotta know how to properly deal with them. Shouting and moving about in an aggressive manner isn’t it. And actually, I would have really been interested to know John Kerry’s response to the Skull and Bones question.

I personally like the “Don’t Tase Me, Bro” line. It almost could be the hit phrase of 2007! Perhaps even the entire decade!

Therefore, OddCulture, being the trashy site that it is, proudly offers our line of Don’t Tase Me, Bro Clothing and Accessories, now available through Cafepress.

Design #1: Don’t Tase Me, Bro (taser gun)

Design #2: Don’t Tase Me, Bro (police)

You’re welcome. And hey, let’s be careful out there!